Crate or lug



May 25, 1937. A. L. KIFF 2,081,821

CRATE OR LUG Filed Sept. 24, 1956 @.Lmff

Patented May 25V, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a crate or lug particularly adapted for the shipment, display and storage of splint baskets of fruit, Vegetables, etc.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide 5 a crate or lug which can be stacked in interlocking manner with other similar crates and from any of which the fruit baskets may be removed if desired without unstacking the crates.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a crate with the interlocking characteristics as described and which can be shipped in stacked relation with other similar crates, with means to lprevent shifting of the crates of the stack either longitudinally or transversely.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a crate of maximum rigidity and minimum parts comprising a pair of spaced end pieces connected by longitudinal extending slats, the slats on the top being spaced to the extreme width of the crate while the slats on the bottom are spaced inwardly of the ends of the crate a suicient distance to fit into the space between the top slats of an adjacent crate. y

A still further object of the invention is to provide maximum space between the bottom slats so as to leave room for the rounding of the fruit above the tops of the baskets of the subjacent crate to avoid crushing of the fruit regardless of how high the crates may be stacked.

Another object of the invention is to provide a crate with but a single narrow basket-retaining side slat, on both sides whereby the major portions of the baskets are exposed permitting satisfactory visual inspection of the baskets and fruit.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a single removable side slat on either side whereby upon removing the slat any selected basket or baskets may be removed from the crate or stack of crates in the manner of a drawer with- 40 out disturbing any of the other baskets or crates or may be partially removed so as to rest in an inclined manner supported against the underlying slat and by the slat immediately above it.

A further objectof the invention is the pro- 45 vision of a crate having metallic lugs projecting upwardly from the inner sides of the end pieces adapted to extend beyond the plane of the bottom of a superposed crate and to bear against the inner faces of the end pieces of said superposed crate to prevent endwise shifting of the crates of of which the same characters of reference have been employed to designate identical parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a crate embodying the novel features of the invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevation showing the end 5' aspect of the baskets;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of a stack of crates; and

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1. l0

Referring now in detailto the several figures, the numerals I and 2 represent the end pieces which are in general rectangular in form and preferably slightly higher than the height of the l y baskets so as to provide room for the baskets 15 being rounded-up with fruit. The end pieces are connected essentially by a pair of top slats 3 and 4 and a pair of bottom slats 5 and 6. The top slats as will be observed from Figure 1 are secured to the end pieces preferably in slightly 20 overlapping relation but in any event as close to the corners of the end pieces as possible.

The bottom slats 5 and '6 are so secured to the end pieces that their outer faces are substantially in vertical planes which passes through the inner faces of the top slats 3 and 4. Said planes are indicated by the lines A-A in Figure 1. It is obvious that a crate or lug so constructed can be stacked with respect to other similar lugs, the slats 5 and 6 fitting between the slats 3 and 4 30 of the subjacent crate, see Figure 3. When the crates are so stacked it is obvious that they are inhibited from shifting either to the front or rear by virtue of the interlocked relation of the bottom slats of the one crate with the top slats of 35 another.

In order to obtain the fullest advantages fromthe crate of the present invention, it is desirable that there be no intermediate slats either between the top slats 3 and 4 or the' bottom slats 5 and 6, 40 so as to preserve as Wide an unobstructed space as possible between the bottom slats. Such a wide space provides room for the mounded fruit in the baskets in the underlying crates so that they will not be crushed by the weight of the bas.- kets in the overlying crates.

In order to prevent shifting of the stacked crates in an endwise direction, small metallic lugs 'I and 8 are provided, said lugs being secured to the end pieces near the top on their inner faces and projecting upwardly in the planes of their inner faces. The height of said lugs is such that they extend beyond the horizontal plane of the bottom edges of the end pieces of the overlying crate so as to bear against the inner faces of said end pieces and prevent relative shifting of the crates.

Figure 4 shows that the splint fruit baskets I I are customarily tapered toward the bottom and that the bottom slats 5 and are so positioned as to fully support the bottoms of the baskets at the ends and to afford protection of the baskets from objects which may collide with the sides of the crates. Likewise, the top slats extend at least to the ends of the top of the basket and protect it from being damaged by sidewise blows.

The baskets are retained within the crate by single slats 9 and i@ secured to the side edges of the end pieces in a removable manner as by nailing and as close to the top of the crate as possible. If the top slats are secured to the end pieces so as to overlap, the removable slats 9 and lll are preferably butted against the overlapped portions of the top slats so as to support the latter against bending stresses.

It will be observed from Figure 2 that the major portion of the ends of the baskets are always in full view so that the condition of the baskets and the fruit therein contained may be satisfactorily inspected by casual glance at the crates and without prying the crates apart or removing the baszets. When it is desired to remove a basket either the slat 9 or lil may be removed and the baskets pulled out in the manner of a drawer. This may be done without disturbing the stacked relation of the crates the inset position of the underlying slat 6 relative to the overlying slat 4 permits the basket to be supported in tilted manner when drawn out at a much steeper angle than would be possible if the slats were in vertical registry, thus making a much better display of the fruit.

It may be desirable to more fully and advantageously display the fruit to provide a sheet of cellophane in the top of the crate and above the baskets. This will not have any particular function when the crates are stacked excepting as tothe top crate of the stack, but in single crates it permits baskets to be advantageously displayed and prevents undesired handling or picking over of the fruit.

While I have in the above description disclosed what I believe to be a preferred and practical embodiment of my invention, it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the precise details of construction and arrangement of parts may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Crate for fruit baskets comprising end pieces of uniform width, with top and bottom the latter each consisting of a pair of slats the bottom pair being secured to the bottom faces of said end pieces inwardly of the corners thereof, and the top pair being secured to the top faces of said end pieces, at a distance apart slightly greater than the distance between the outer edges of the bottom slats. whereby the bottom slats of a superposed crate will t between the tcp slats of an underlying crate, with nothing intermediate said slats.

2. Crate for fruit baskets as claimed in claim 1, including lugs secured to the inner faces of the end pieces and projecting above the top of said end pieces to a distance greater than the thickness of said top slats, so as to engage the inner faces of the end pieces. of a superposed crate to inhibit endwise relative shifting of said crates.

3. Crate for fruit baskets as claimed in claim 1, including a single narrow side slat for retaining the baskets in said crate, said side slat being removably secured to the end pieces adjacent the top, leaving the lower portion of the side of said crate open for inspection.

4. In combination with a fruit basket having the ends tapered inwardly toward the bottom, and a crate for holding a single row of baskets in side by side relation, said crate comprising end pieces of uniform width, longitudinal top and bottom slats securing said end pieces in spaced relation, said slats being in pairs, the bottom pair being secured to the bottom faces of said end pieces inwardly of the corners thereof and at such distance apart as to underlie the ends of said basket, and the top pair being secured to the top faces of said end pieces at a distance apart slightly greater than the distance between the outer edges of the bottom slats, whereby the bottom slats of a superposed crate will t between the top slats of an underlying crate, and removable side slats secured to the end pieces adjacent the top leaving the lower portions of the side of said crate open for inspection.

5. Crate for fruit baskets comprising end pieces of uniform width, longitudinal top and bottom slats securing said end pieces in spaced relation, said slats being in pairs, the bottom pair being secured to the bottom faces of said end pieces inwardly of the corners thereof and the top pair being secured to the top faces of said end pieces outwardly with respect to the slats of the bottom pair whereby fruit baskets partially withdrawn from the side of the crate may be supported between said top and bottom slats at a steep angle.

ARTHUR L. KIFF. 

